Trends in the Accreditation Relationships of U.S. Postsecondary Institutions. 1978-1985.

Kells, H. R.; Parrish, Richard M.

As a follow-up to a 1979 study ("Multiple Accreditation Relationships of Postsecondary Institutions in the United States") by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation (COPA) this report presents answers to some of the questions raised then. The purpose was to: explore in a longitudinal way most of the major facets of the 1979 study; explore in a more detailed way the phenomenon of multiple relationships; explore the relationship between the accreditation patterns found and the extent of state regulation or control experienced by the institutions; and explore in more detail the increasingly important accreditation relationships of non-regionally accredited proprietary postsecondary institutions. Study procedures and limitations are discussed. Findings are explained by accredited institutions, accreditation relationships of institutions, patterns of accrediting relationships, patterns for accrediting agencies, relationship to level of state regulation, and the national accreditation database. Results indicate: accreditation activity has grown overall since 1978 by one-fourth; regional differences in accreditation patterns persist; the basic patterns of relative extent of accreditation agency activity have been sustained with some shifts; and there is little relationship between extent of state regulation of institutions and the average number of accreditation relationships per institution. 7 references. (SM)